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Five New Cardinals From Outside Of Italy Are Appointed. wochitnews on May 21, 2017 Pope Francis is to elevate five Roman Catholic prelates from outside Italy and the Vatican to the rank of cardinal, …More
Five New Cardinals From Outside Of Italy Are Appointed.

wochitnews on May 21, 2017 Pope Francis is to elevate five Roman Catholic prelates from outside Italy and the Vatican to the rank of cardinal, the elite group of churchmen who are his closest advisers and can enter a conclave to choose his successor. The pope, making the surprise announcement during his weekly Sunday address, said the men came from Mali, Spain, Sweden, Laos and El Salvador. Naming new cardinals is one of the most significant powers of the papacy, allowing a pontiff to put his stamp on the future of the 1.2 billion-member Roman Catholic Church.